Aloha Sunday

21.08.2015 19:12

The folks at the San Diego Polo Club know a little something about dressing for success.

Many who attended Sunday’s kick-off of the second half of polo season helped support a VIP fundraiser for Dress for Success San Diego, an organization that provides professional clothes and career development tools to disadvantaged women.

​Britainy Birkhoff enjoys the atmosphere of Aloha Sunday at the San Diego Polo Club, a fundraiser for Dress for Success San Diego. Photo by Bill Wechter“Since its inception, we’ve helped raise millions of dollars for over 80 different charitable partners,” said Lindsey Chronert, marketing director of San Diego Polo Club, which has operated for nearly three decades in Rancho Santa Fe and boasts one of the longest playing seasons in the country. “We try to partner with various charities throughout the season to bring awareness to the community and also to provide an entertaining venue for the charity.”

Proceeds from the sale of VIP tickets to the Aloha Sunday polo matches – the club’s annual Hawaiian themed soiree – raised money for the local affiliate of the international nonprofit organization which seeks to empower unemployed and underemployed women to compete for jobs, build careers and improve the quality of life for their families.

Since 1998, San Diego’s chapter has served 9,500 women referred by local domestic violence agencies, homeless shelters and job-training programs.

It was founded by Sylvia McKinney, herself a survivor of domestic violence, who fled her native Scotland to emigrate to the U.S. Her personal journey as a survivor and mother of five motivated her to attain three advanced degrees and eventually establish San Diego’s chapter.

“There are many rewarding aspects of my work,” McKinney said. “I see my clients come in and say ‘I don’t have a suit that’s going to fit me. I’m not going to be able to get a job.’ Then to be able to provide all the programs and services, not just the suiting program, but the pre- and post-employment retention services that we offer and to have our clients come back and say they got a job, that’s very rewarding.”

It’s fitting that an organization that dresses women for job interviews is supported by the sport of polo, which is synonymous with style. But the two groups have more in common than just outside appearances.

The polo club is well known for its top-notch social scene. And Dress For Success clients are taught the value of power networking in climbing the career ladder.

“Organizations that refer to us tend to provide hard skills training,” McKinney said. “Dress for Success is complementing and not duplicating that by doing the soft skills piece – the social aspect and the self esteem and confidence building.”[photo]Polo players take the field during Aloha Sunday at the San Diego Polo Club, a fundraiser for Dress for Success San Diego. Photo by Bill WechterAmong those attending Sunday’s event was Maryanne Parker of downtown San Diego. She used to be a client a decade ago after she left post-Communist Bulgaria for a better life with her child. She now owns her own etiquette business, a home and is writing a book.

“I believe if it wasn’t for Dress For Success I wouldn’t be able to get this platform,” Parker said. “I know you see me in the VIP section now but it wasn’t always like that. I always remember where I came from. It doesn’t matter where we’re coming from. It matters where we’re going to.”- See more at: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/16/dress-for-success-polo-fundraiser/#sthash.St56md72.dpuf